A California college professor has been indicted on felony charges for allegedly hurling federal agents’ own tear gas canisters back at them during a raid on a pot farm this summer, the Department of Justice announced.
Jonathan Anthony Caravello — a 37-year-old math and philosophy professor at California State University Channel Islands — was indicted Wednesday for assaulting a federal officer when hundreds of protesters clashed with immigration agents at the Camarillo farm this summer.
When tear gas was used to disperse the crowd, Caravello picked up a canister and chucked it back at the officers, prosecutors allege.
He is now facing up to 20 years in prison, if convicted.
During the massive July 10 Homeland Security and US Border Patrol operation — in which more than 300 allegedly illegal workers were ultimately detained — protesters gathered near the Glass House Farms location and blocked the agents from leaving the site.
The protests quickly escalated to rocks being thrown at the government vehicles and officers in turn deployed tear gas.
After throwing the canister at the officers, Caravello left the protest, changed his clothes, and returned two hours later, according to court documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
Agents identified him as the canister-thrower and took him into custody, during which he allegedly resisted arrest by failing his limbs.
Caravello was initially charged with felony assault on July 12, but the charges were later downgraded to a misdemeanor.
He pleaded guilty on Aug. 25, telling the Ventura County Star, “Anything and everything I do at protests is to protect people. I would never intentionally harm anyone.”
However, a grand jury reviewed his case this week and indicted Caravello on a felony count of assaulting a federal agent.
California State University Channel Islands did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Caravello is currently free on a $15,000 bond and is expected to be arraigned in the United States District Court in Los Angeles, the Justice Department said.
